Watching the Breath

I've made it a goal of mine to re-start my meditation. I'm literally going back to the basics, just to get a feel for the real essence of meditation and centering myself. I begin with what is perhaps the most basic form meditation: watching and focusing the mind on the breath. While it's probably the most fundamental and simple of all meditations, it is probably also the most powerful. The effects of it are tremendously immediate - you become entirely aware of your breath, your breaths are longer, deeper, fuller. If you want to bring your mind onto the focus a few deep, conscious inhalations through the nose should do the trick.

So I ran through another session of simple breath watching, and I have to say it can be hard work if you have other thoughts going through your mind. I think my saying I've been out of practice for a while would be an understatement, but I will say that it is good I'm going back to the start. Ugh, just wish my sinuses weren't feeling so stuffy right now. I'll have to remember to try some pranayama exercises - that might clear it right up so I could go on meditating without annoyances.

OM Shanti